Adelle'sBaptism

This summer we took Adelle with us to a TRU gathering at a friend's house.  Pastor Dave was talking about a Baptism ceremony coming up.  Adelle said she wanted to get baptized.  I just sort of let it go. 

A couple of weeks later, I took Adelle to watch a friend be baptized.  Adelle wanted to do it that day!  

Then a few weeks ago, she went to church with us.  She sang and worshipped and listened to every word.  Then she said again she wanted to be baptized.  So last weekend she went through the class with Pastor Dave after church.  I went over the children's baptism pamphlet with her and asked her some questions and she seemed to really understand.  We created a Facebook event and she invited some friends and family.  Then on Sunday, she did it!  I picked her up and we spent some time at the house, then we went out to the ceremony at Lake Elbo.  I'd never been out there and it was really fun!  Everyone brought food and we sat on picnic tables and worshipped.  Pastor Dave and Sarah and the worship team sang some songs, Pastor Pat talked, then each person who was to be baptized said a sentence or two about why they wanted to be baptized.  Adelle said she wanted to show her commitment to God.  Some of the kids were really articulate and it was really sweet.  Icing on the cake:  Alexis did it too!  Her brother, Jake, was getting baptized and I didn't know Alexis was!  So cool!  

I was worried about the actual logistics as Adelle doesn't like water on her face.  She seemed really nervous before it but determined.  Her friend Liz came and that helped a lot.  Adelle's family didn't come due to the heat which was disappointing.  When it was her turn, Adelle went out into the water quickly.  Pastor Dave had said that I could help baptize her, such an honor!  We got out there, got in place, and she did it!  Everyone cheered!  

School Has Started

So this school year has started with the usual stuff...meetings(which were more interesting this year), Camp Dewy(what, we have some nice kids?), helping new staff get on their feet, and the first day of helping the 7th graders find their way and get their lockers open...  This is my 13th year at middle school, I believe, and I think my 26th year in education.  But this year, a new twist!

Scott is working at my school!  It's strange but fun!  I keep forgetting he is there and then he'll walk by or I'll hear his voice.  He is going to be the in school suspension supervisor with other general,supervision duties.  It doesn't pay well and no benefits until next year, but it's a paycheck!  I obviously love my job so it's fun to share it with him.  We rode to work together this morning and will most mornings.  I told him today that Hannah rode to school,at Eisenhower, then Leah and Anna, then Joel, and now him!  He helped me with some things today, too.

Admin staff this year:

Fun!

Wedding Itself

We got out to the land and everything came together.  I was stressed a bit but it was fun to welcome the guests in the tent as they arrived.  Then the time came.  We all met in the wedding party tent and Leah and David pinned corsages on Terri and I.  The wedding party went off toward the chairs and Leah and Scott and I were alone,for,a minute.  It was interesting dodging tall grass, cow hoof prints and cow patties to make our way over to the wedding.  My emotions were swirling.  I was mostly focused on not falling but I was also incredibly proud and honored to walk with Leah down the aisle.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined walking her down the aisle.  

I remember hugging David and then Leah and sitting down for the welcome then standing up for the blessing.  When Terri and Greg spoke, I started crying.  I don't remember details but I remember that their words were personal and meaningful.  Scott prayed and I squeezed his hand as he was nervous but did well and it was touching and he said all the right things.

The wedding words were amazing.  The reflection was perfect and captured Leah and David's personalities and the specialness of the wedding being on the prairie and on David's families' land.  The songs were also beautiful and made me cry.  I sobbed most of the way through the wedding although Joel kept laughing at me and that made me laugh.  Hannah's face was covered with tears the whole time.  I really sobbed when Ruth read the verse from Ephesians as it is the verse I pray for the kids often.  

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT)

The reception was really fun.  It was difficult to get quality time with the family and with all the special people who came.  Leah's grandparents all sat together, our bible study friends came, and Tracy, Marvin and Alexis and Jeff came.  Shari brought her family and Reggie and Micheala came.  Courtney and her kids were there.  And of course, Kathy was there.  Leah had a picture taken with her four moms, me, Terri, Kathy, and her Mojos boss and friend, Patty.

We ate and mingled and took pictures and spent a long time out of the beautiful patio overlooking the pond.  I had a great conversation with Ruth.  

After cleaning and packing up, we went back to the Flying W and stayed late.  I had a great time.  Leah's friends are so fun.  Hannah and Joel were in rare form.  I don't know when I have laughed so hard.  

I think some of the reason I felt so emotional all weekend is of course, being with Hannah and Joel because I miss them so much.  But also having the kids together and having Anna and Kathy there and thinking about all the amazing times we all had when the kids were growing up.  And thinking about how special David's family is and how Leah is joining that family and we are now a part of their family too.  They are truly amazing people.  It means so much to know Leah has a whole other family to support and love her.  And what great people Leah and David are.  I got to really know their friends better and see what a terrific life they have and will have.  And to really get to know David better and to truly see how very much he loves Leah.  He worked so hard and I know without a doubt he will take a amazing care of her.  

I still don't feel like I'm able to put into words all the emotions I experienced through this wedding weekend.  It was a precious time and I will savor these memories forever.  

more Wedding Reflections

The rehearsal dinner was at the Flying W.  When we arrived, the food had been out out buffet style and people were eating at picnic tables outside.  It was pretty informal and enjoyable.  Eventually everyone did introduce themselves and Hannah and the best man gave speeches.  Hannah told funny stories about how she mistreated Leah all her life and then said she looks up to,Leah because of the awesome choices she makes including choosing David.

The rest of the evening was spent talking with David's family and getting to know them better and reminiscing with the kids and Anna.  I am failing at putting into words how enjoyable it was to socialize with all of Leah and David's friends and family.  Most of the kids got into he hot tub.  Maggie and her new husband played some music.  

I loved spending precious time with the kids.  They are so witty and fun and just good people.  

Sunday morning we got up and had a leisurely breakfast and got showered and went to Camp Wood to set up for the reception.  Camp Wood is a YMCA camp and was an amazing facility for the reception.  There was so much to do but everyone pitched in.

Leah handmade such careful plans and everything was so beautiful! 

We then went back to Flying W to get changed for the wedding and the girls took special care helping Leah get ready.

One special memory is when everyone was ready, we went over to the other cabin where David had gotten ready and he was on the side porch having his picture taken.  Scott and I were with Leah and no one else was there.  I loved the look on David's face when he saw his bride.  One thing the wedding weekend solidified for me, is how special of a relationship Leah and David have.  They have a special friendship and love.  Some of the photos capture that well.

Post Wedding Reflections

Today instead of going to JC's wedding in Colorado(I'm still exhausted), I went to Newton to help Leah in her classroom.  Here is my beautiful girl in her adorable kitchen in her grown up house.

Here is her elementary classroom.

And here is some of the mess we made trying to clean and organize her middle school classroom.

She filled two large trash cans and made a giant give away pile.  I guess she went through about a third of what is there.  So wild to think she's going to be a teacher!  

On the way down, I had a chance to process some of the intense feelings I experienced the weekend of the wedding and since.  All weekend I literally had a huge lump in my throat as if I needed a big ugly cry and then tears would come to the backs of my eyes frequently.  Scott said he understood as it is such a huge life event but I didn't really understand.  Today I figured out that I feel intense joy and gratitude.  

So Saturday morning I got up at David's grandparent's house and Terri was getting ready and busy and Greg had left to go work more at the wedding site.  So I ate the chocolate croissant that Terri's cousin brought over on the front patio and shared it with a neighborhood cat.  Then I went for a walk on the cool trails in the housing area that I had never been on before.  It was amazing.  Then I showered and got ready.

I ran to Mojos to pick up the salad for the brunch and on the way to get gas, I saw a pretty girl walking.  Then it hit me that it was Hannah!  How strange to see her there in Newton!  

The girls all came over mid morning for a beautiful brunch that Terri had planned, a retro garden theme with quiche, fancy bread, salad and fruit.  The cool thing was, that I got to help with it and served the girls.  Poor Terri's brain was going a million different directions with all they were still doing for the wedding.  I loved helping with the brunch.  Terri had gardening gloves, retro aprons including one Leah had registered for, retro glasses, and tablemats the girls colored on with crayons.  It was lovely and special.

We then went to the house and packed up the rented SUV's and all the cars with wedding and reception stuff, suitcases and the wedding party, and made a long caravan about 45 minutes to the Flying W Ranch.

What an amazing place!  Three cabins including a large one that sleeps tons of people.  It was rustic and decorated with cowboy stuff and deer heads and stuff.  It had wrap around porches with big rocking chairs and a giant hot tub.  More about Flying W later.

Then we all loaded up and went out to the land.  I guess Scott and I also checked in to our hotel, The Grand Central in Cottonwood Falls about 15 minutes away.

At the land, the girls picked flowers for the wedding walking all around the prairie.  

The rehearsal was pretty straight forward, although later I didn't remember anything I was supposed to do!  I liked the officiant, Ruth Harder, a lot.  Leah had already told us that we were both walking her down the aisle and giving her a blessing.  

Leah had also told Joel that he was ushering and standing up with her.  He found out he was also going to take the microphone back and forth a bunch of times.

It really still hadn't all sunk in that this was really happening.  I think I felt numb.  I just enjoyed the family time.